Loyalist Feud Sparks Unsavoury Scenes

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Apparently McCartney played a practical joke on Johnny Evans this morning - they were sharing a room on the trip and McCartney took Evans’ pastport this morning. Evans only realised he was missing his passport when he went to check in for the flight and McCartney let him stew and think he’d have to stay behind in Iceland right up to the last minute before giving it back to him. Gillespie heard what happened and having fooked up for the Iceland winner last night he couldn’t believe other players were messing and joking around so he went up and started cuffing the head off McCartney before he was dragged away.

From The Belfast Telegraph:

Thursday, September 13, 2007

By Steven Beacom

Two Northern Ireland footballers were today involved in an astonishing bust-up on their way home from yesterday’s ill-fated European Championship qualifier in Iceland.

The incident involving Keith Gillespie and George McCartney happened on the plane as the Northern Ireland party were preparing to fly home from Reykjavik following last night’s 2-1 defeat to Iceland.

In astonishing scenes, eye witnesses told the Belfast Telegraph that the players became involved in a flare-up to the amazement of fellow passengers on the Iceland Air flight from Reykjavik to Heathrow.

It is understood that the row was over a passport.

The witness said: "Initially, Keith Gillespie and George McCartney had words and then punches were thrown. It was amazing.

“David Healy, Warren Feeney and Steve Davis did a great job in separating them but it was still an unsavoury incident.”

The Irish FA admitted that an incident had taken place.

In a statement, the association said: "An incident occurred today between team members of the senior Northern Ireland squad of which the president (Raymond Kennedy) and chief executive (Howard Wells) are aware of.

"Both the president and the chief executive will investigate the situation and take appropriate action.

“There will be no further comment at this stage.”

Sheffield United star Gillespie is the most experienced Northern Ireland player in the squad while West Ham’s McCartney has only just returned to the international squad after refusing to play for the team when previous manager Lawrie Sanchez was in charge.

The alarming row completed a dismal week for Northern Ireland.

On Saturday, Nigel Worthington’s side lost 1-0 to Latvia through a Chris Baird own goal and last night they were defeated 2-1 in Iceland with the home side winning due to Gillespie’s own goal in the dying minutes.

Those results have seen Northern Ireland’s dream of qualifying for the Euro 2008 finals slip away. They are now in third place in Group F behind Sweden and Spain with the top two sides qualifying.

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Belter of a letter in The Belfast Telegraph:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/letters/article2959042.ece

We should have a positive outlook on the ‘Norn Iron’ rugby team

Thursday, September 13, 2007

May I rush to support ‘Rugby Fan’ of Bangor and his call for a Northern Ireland rugby team (Write Back, September 7)?

I fear he has not thought this through properly.

Membership of the team should be confined to church-going Protestants, with preference given to members of the loyal orders, especially temperance lodges.

The team strip should be orange, purple and black, and the national anthem should be The Sash for home games, and Dolly’s Brae for away fixtures (if there are any).

The success of the ethnically-cleansed soccer team can be judged by all, especially since we chased that rascal Neil Lennon out of the side. It’s a pity we lost to Latvian Girls (under 12) Pipe Band II XI, but hey, be positive - we scored the only goal of the game, so surely that makes it a moral Protestant victory.

ANOTHER RUGBY BIGOT Bangor

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Letter that preceded the one above:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/letters/article2936718.ece

Ireland rugby team is ‘too nationalist’

Thursday, September 06, 2007

The Ireland rugby team is supposed to represent both the unionist and the nationalist tradition. However, one would be forgiven if they came to the conclusion that the Ireland rugby team is now officially Irish nationalist in identity and culture.

Irish tricolours, the Soldiers’ Song, Ireland’s Call and visits to the Pope are the order of the day.

The pushover officials of the Ulster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union have encouraged this sectarianism and discrimination.

The excuses made for the banning of the Union flag and the playing of God Save the Queen at Ravenhill are puerile to the extreme.

This fiasco demonstrates that the rugby enthusiasts south of the border are fully in control and that only Irish nationalism counts. When Dublin’s Lansdowne Road is re-developed will the Northern Ireland flag fly beside the Irish tricolour, and if not, why not?

It is not good enough that the province of Ulster flag should represent Northern Ireland. This flag is an icon of Sinn Fein and the GAA and it is a cop out for a meaningful parity of esteem.

Our Ulster officials should insist on equality, but I am not holding my breath as they would not like to give up their hospitality perks.

Northern Ireland should have its own international rugby team and bring our country to the attention of the world, like our own ‘Norn Iron’ football team, and not to be assimilated into an organisation that brings beneficial propaganda to Irish nationalism.

Rugby Fan, Bangor

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Great letter in response!